---
title: 'IT Helpdesk Manager at Astro Mechanica'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/it-helpdesk-manager-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-f4q6qmex1s2j'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-31'
---

# IT Helpdesk Manager at Astro Mechanica

- **Company:** Astro Mechanica
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Compensation:** $155k–$185k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-10-30
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-31
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/astro-mechanica/3bf0bc61-28d6-439a-90c3-a7c284bd503d

## Job description

## ABOUT US:

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company developing a scalable technology platform to power critical infrastructure, mission operations, and the future of flight. We apply aerospace engineering and quality standards across our products, delivering high performance, reliability, and efficiency for the most demanding operating environments. Astro Mechanica is backed by leading venture and strategic investors, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Giant Step Capital, United Airlines Ventures, and Voyager Ventures.

## WHO WE ARE:

We’re a team of passionate engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace. We’re generalists with specialist depth, united by a flat structure and a shared obsession with building things that work well. We move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy.

## WHO YOU ARE:

You’re a hands-on IT leader who has built and run help desk teams at fast-growing startups. You know what keeps engineers productive without sacrificing security and compliance. You’re as comfortable configuring a switch or writing an Intune policy as you are coaching a technician or explaining a new control to the team. You’ve worked in regulated environments, and you understand that CMMC, ITAR and EAR aren’t paperwork; they shape how every system is built and used. You take ownership, document what you do, and want to be on-site where the work happens.

## WHAT YOU’LL DO:

- Lead, hire and mentor the IT help desk team, and set clear priorities, SLAs and escalation paths
- Own day-to-day IT support for Windows, macOS and Linux users across the company
- Administer our Microsoft 365 GCC and GCC High tenants, including identity, email, SharePoint, OneDrive and Teams
- Manage endpoints through Microsoft Intune and Jamf: enrollment, configuration profiles, patching, compliance policies and app deployment
- Design, maintain and troubleshoot our Ubiquiti and Cisco network infrastructure, including switching, wireless, firewalls and VPN
- Maintain a CMMC 2.0 compliant environment: implement and monitor controls, collect evidence, and support audits and assessments
- Ensure IT systems and processes meet ITAR and EAR requirements for handling controlled technical data
- Manage onboarding and offboarding, access reviews, and asset lifecycle from procurement to disposal
- Write and maintain IT documentation, runbooks and user-facing guides
- Partner with engineering, operations and leadership to evaluate and roll out new tools

## WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

- 3+ years of experience managing an IT or help desk team
- 3+ years of experience working in a startup environment
- 3+ years of Windows and macOS administration experience; Linux experience is a huge plus
- 3+ years administering Microsoft Intune and Jamf MDM platforms
- Hands-on experience administering Microsoft 365 GCC and GCC High
- Experience with Ubiquiti and Cisco networking
- Experience administering a CMMC 2.0 compliant work environment
- Working knowledge of CMMC 2.0 and ITAR/EAR compliance requirements
- Ability to work full-time in office, Monday through Friday
- Must be a U.S. citizen

## PERKS & BENEFITS:

- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- 401(k) program and transparent stock option plan
- Self-managed and flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time
- Flexible work environment

## ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

At Astro Mechanica, we highly value in-office work to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. We consider working in the office five days a week an essential part of the employee's role. Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer. We proudly recruit and hire a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

## About Astro Mechanica

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Astro Mechanica is building the world’s first turboelectric adaptive jet engine (Duality) that achieves high efficiency across both subsonic and supersonic speeds, aiming to democratize high-speed flight.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Venture-backed; latest round: Series A-II / Venture Round in September 2025)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2021
- **Founders**: Ian Brooke (CEO & Founder)

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Aerospace, aviation propulsion, defense systems
- **Target customers**: US government (military and defense applications), commercial aviation (long-term), cargo/logistics
- **Mission/purpose**: “Democratize high-speed flight by making supersonic travel flexible, accessible, and sustainable” – developing rapid, on-demand, point-to-point global mobility.

## Products & Services
- **Duality™ Propulsion System**: A proprietary dual-use turboelectric adaptive jet engine designed to be efficient at all speeds from subsonic to supersonic. Currently in development and expected to begin altitude testing in 2027 on a dedicated testbed aircraft.
- **Airframe & Flight Systems**: Vertically integrated design of airframes and flight control systems optimized for the Duality engine, with near-term focus on government contracts.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding raised – **$54.7 million** as of the latest venture round in September 2025 (LinkedIn data; earlier reports by CBInsights indicated $27.6 million, likely reflecting a prior round)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: United Airlines Ventures (lead investor in latest round), Andreessen Horowitz, Giant Step Capital, Y Combinator (seed)
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew **228.6% year-over-year** to ~35 employees; **36 active job postings** as of mid-2025; rapid hiring across engineering, manufacturing, and leadership roles; moving toward engine flight test in 2027.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Unique engine architecture**: The turboelectric adaptive design allows a single engine to operate efficiently from subsonic to supersonic regimes, removing the need for afterburners or separate engines.
- **Vertical integration**: In-house engine, airframe, and flight systems development enables tight optimization and rapid iteration.
- **Flat engineering culture**: Described as “generalists with specialist depth” and a flat structure that accelerates decision-making and innovation.

## Strategic Focus
- **Near-term**: Engine altitude testing (scheduled for 2027) and securing US government contracts for high-speed systems.
- **Long-term**: Develop a full aircraft platform and operational model for economically viable supersonic commercial travel.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Emphasis on engineering excellence, pragmatism, and moving fast. Flat hierarchy where “engineering speaks louder than hierarchy.”
- **Work policy**: Hybrid environment – most roles are based in San Francisco with a mix of in-office and remote collaboration. The majority of job listings specify “In-Office” at the HQ.
- **Notable perks**: Not explicitly listed, but the company offers equity (typical for startups) and the opportunity to work on groundbreaking aerospace technology from concept to flight.
- **Engineering focus**: Strong technical team with talent from SpaceX, Relativity Space, Boom Supersonic, Lockheed Martin, and Astra. Active hiring in propulsion, flight software, GNC, test engineering, and manufacturing.

## Sources
1. [astromecha.co](https://www.astromecha.co/)
2. [astromecha.co/careers](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/astro-mechanica)
3. [linkedin.com/company/astro-mechanica](https://www.linkedin.com/company/astro-mechanica)
4. [cbinsights.com/company/astro-mechanica](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/astro-mechanica)
5. [builtin.com/company/astro-mechanica](https://builtin.com/company/astro-mechanica)

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